Two of Britain's last remaining First World War veterans joined old comrades for a final poignant reunion yesterday.

Harry Allingham, 106, from Eastbourne, and Fred Lloyd, 105, from Uckfield, were among nine men from the Great War who shared memories of the conflict.

The World War One Veterans' Association decided to reunite them yesterday for a 'last curtain call'.

The former servicemen were greeted by the Prince of Wales at the National Archives in Kew, Surrey.

The World War One Veterans' Association estimates only 38 British servicemen from the First World War are still alive.

Former air mechanic Mr Allingham, a member of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, described his experiences to the Prince of Wales.

He said: "Sometimes I enjoyed it, sometimes I didn't. My worst memory was when I fell in a shell hole. I was trying to get rid of booby traps.

"I had to stay the night on cold concrete. I couldn't go anywhere because of the traps.

"Until I came here I had forgotten all about the war. You want to forget it really.

"Every time I went up in an aircraft I was taking my life into my hands. It was a real honour to meet Prince Charles and I was thrilled to meet my old comrades."

Mr Allingham was awarded both the British War and the Victory Campaign medals. He served as an air mechanic during the war and was in France from September 1917 to February 1919.

During the day's events Mr Lloyd, who was part of the Sussex Regiment of the Royal Artillery, was presented with his Legion d'Honneur, France's highest award, for his service.

The great-grandfather, who now lives in a residential home, was awarded the accolade previously but had yet to collect the accompanying document.

He said: "Two of my brothers died in the war so I think myself very lucky to have survived. I was shot at only once in France and that was by our own soldiers.

"It's proof that the sort of friendly fire incidents in the Iraq war have been happening for a long long time.

"We were camping above Le Havre and a revolt broke out. Soldiers were dissatisfied with their rations and things started getting ugly to the point where there was shooting.

"Suddenly, bullets started whizzing over my head and I had to take cover. I stayed on in France in 1919, joining the new veterinary corps.

"I told Prince Charles about the bouquet of sweet peas I grew in my greenhouse for Queen Mary's birthday.

"Charles seems a nice fellow, although the occasion was quite sad, being the last reunion we will have."